Category: Daily Guide Network

GHANA’S SENIOR women’s national team, the Black Queens, have earned multiple nominations for the upcoming CAF Awards 2025, underscoring their remarkable resurgence and consistent performances over the past year.

The team’s inspiring turnaround under head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has drawn continental attention, with both individual players and the team itself receiving recognition for their excellence on and off the pitch.

Coach Kim Lars Björkegren has been shortlisted for the CAF Women’s Coach of the Year award, following his tactical brilliance and strong leadership that guided the Black Queens to a bronze medal finish at the 2024 WAFCON.

Team captain Portia Boakye is in contention for the Women’s Player of the Year award. Her leadership, composure, and decisive performances have been pivotal to Ghana’s success and resurgence in African women’s football.

Rising star Stella Nyamekye has been nominated for CAF Young Player of the Year, reflecting her creativity, consistency, and maturity beyond her years. The young midfielder has quickly established herself as one of the most promising talents on the continent.

In the goalkeeping category, Cynthia Findiib Konlan, Ghana’s reliable number one, has been shortlisted for CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year. Her agility, confidence, and crucial saves have been key to the Queens’ defensive solidity.

Rounding off Ghana’s impressive showing, the Black Queens themselves have been nominated for CAF Women’s National Team of the Year, a recognition of their resurgence and growing influence in African football.

These multiple nominations highlight the team’s unity, discipline, and steady progress, as well as the Ghana Football Association’s commitment to women’s football development.

The Black Queens’ achievements serve as a testament to the nation’s renewed strength and ambition on the continental stage.

The Director of Education for the Ledzokuku Municipality, Mrs. Theresa Tetteh, has advised teachers to take a keen interest in their capacity building to enhance their work.

She explained that, now that Information Technology (IT) has taken centre stage in every facet of life, there is a need for all teachers to leverage IT and sharpen their skills in the use of IT as a pedagogical tool for the teaching of various subjects and not as a subject itself.

Mrs. Tetteh announced this at the closing session of a four-day capacity building on ICT integration training for more than 500 basic schoolteachers in the Ledzokuku Municipality in the Greater Accra Region.

The training, organised by the Keep the Premium Solutions (a National Teaching Council (NTC) accredited institution), which spanned between October 13 to 17, was divided into four cohorts.

Areas of Training

The participants were taken through basic and intermediate computer skills, introduction to key educational ICT tools, demonstration on lesson planning with ICT, digital record-keeping and communication tools, as well as the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to prepare lesson notes and assessments.

The Municipal Director reminded the teachers to ensure that they made good use of the knowledge acquired during the training toward the promotion of effective teaching and learning in their respective schools.

She pledged to continue providing the right training as well as the provision of the right resources to improve teaching and learning in their schools.

Sharpen Skills

Mr. Godsway Kumado, Head of Statistics and Planning at the Ledzokuku Education Directorate, on his part, urged the participants to take advantage of the availability of AI to promote their teaching and learning.

He asked teachers to disabuse their minds that AI was going to take over their work, adding that it was rather going to enhance and promote effective teaching and learning.

Mr. Kumado urged the teachers to continue acquiring other critical skills to help enhance their performance as professional teachers as well as contribute towards the development of education in the country.

Ghana’s eye care professionals have renewed calls for urgent reforms, stronger policy action, and improved funding to strengthen low vision rehabilitation and expand access to quality eye health services across the country.

Speaking at the 13th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Session of the Ghana Optometric Association (GOA), held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the key speakers – Dr. Carl Halladay Abraham, Dr. Shirazu Issahaku, and Prof. Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi – underscored the need for coordinated national efforts to address the growing burden of visual impairment and strengthen regulation, professional welfare, and innovation in the sector.

The event, themed ‘Low Vision Rehabilitation: Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges,’ brought together hundreds of optometrists, policymakers, regulators, academics, and health stakeholders from across the country and beyond. Ninety-four new members were also inducted into the Association.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Carl Halladay Abraham, a lecturer at the Department of Ophthalmic Science at the University of Cape Coast, called for stronger policy action, improved funding, and greater recognition for low vision care, describing it as ‘an act of justice, not charity.’

He noted that low vision rehabilitation – which enables people with partial sight to live independently – remains one of the most neglected areas of eye health despite its social and economic importance.

Dr. Abraham, who is also a low vision care and rehabilitation practitioner, warned that the cost of vision impairment extends beyond personal hardship to significant national economic losses. ‘When people lose their vision, we as a country lose money. Ghana loses about 350 million dollars annually due to loss in productivity and wages,’ he said.

He identified poor governance, inadequate data, lack of a national policy, and weak funding as major obstacles to effective low vision care.

Dr. Abraham called for statutory and sustainable funding for the Ghana Eye Care Secretariat, a national policy on low vision rehabilitation, and better recognition for practitioners. He also emphasised the need for disability-friendly infrastructure, urging, ‘There shouldn’t be a single infrastructure in this country built without considering persons with disabilities – not one.’

Sharing stories of patients whose lives were transformed through low vision aids, he said, ‘When we empower someone to read again, to navigate their community, or to return to work, we restore not only sight but personhood.’

AHPC Reaffirms Commitment to Optometric Development

In a fraternal message, the Registrar of the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC), Dr. Shirazu Issahaku, reaffirmed the Council’s strong partnership with the Ghana Optometric Association and announced several major reforms aimed at strengthening regulation, professional development, and digital transformation across the allied health sector.

He commended optometrists for their pivotal role in shaping the Council since its inception, describing the profession as a ‘critical pillar’ of Ghana’s healthcare system.

He disclosed that the Council had introduced computer-based licensure examinations, harmonised curricula across allied health training institutions, and established a Professional Standing Committee to strengthen regulation. He added that the budget for the Ghana College of Allied Health Professions had been incorporated into the Council’s 2026 budget to pave the way for its establishment.

According to him, the professional register and allied health training institutions are being audited to enhance credibility, while accreditation processes are under review. The Council has also introduced four compulsory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) modules, fully digitised its logbook and indexing systems, and restructured its operations to include three new technical directorates – Education and Examination; Regulation and Compliance; and Policy, Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation – to enhance efficiency and service delivery.

Dr. Issahaku further revealed that efforts were underway to complete the Legislative Instrument (LI) to operationalise Part I of Act 857 (2013) and to secure a permanent office complex for the Council.

Policy Reforms and Recruitment Drive

Outgoing GOA President, Prof. Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi, also urged urgent reforms in Ghana’s eye care sector to strengthen professional standards, enhance recruitment, and improve access to quality vision services nationwide.

Speaking at the same event, he appealed to the Allied Health Professions Council and the Ghana Health Service to step up recruitment of optometrists into the public health system and introduce incentive schemes to attract professionals to under-served areas.

‘Eye care is not just a profession; it is a calling, a responsibility, and a service to God and humanity,’ he declared.

Prof. Boadi-Kusi highlighted several achievements under his tenure since 2022, including the introduction of practical CPD programmes, the launch of the GOA Scientific Journal, groundwork for a College of Optometry, and the creation of the Refractive Error Awareness Week – described as a global first.

On member welfare, he said the Association had provided support in disciplinary and health matters, explored group insurance options, and assisted bereaved families. However, he expressed concern about delays in insurance claim payments by some private insurers, warning that over 120 optometric facilities are struggling with arrears.

He further commended the University of Cape Coast for elevating its Department of Optometry to a School of Optometry and Vision Science, introducing postgraduate programmes that attract students across Africa – a feat he described as ‘a testament to Ghana’s leadership in optometric education.’

As he handed over leadership, Prof. Boadi-Kusi urged members to remain united and committed to advancing the Association’s vision of accessible, high-quality eye care for all.

The event concluded with a collective call for greater collaboration among government, academia, regulators, and practitioners to elevate Ghana’s eye health system.

President John Dramani Mahama will on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, launch Africa’s largest Free Zones Industrial Park, the $1.5 billion Gomoa Central Special Economic Zone (GCSEZ), in the Central Region.

The project marks a major milestone in the country’s quest for large-scale industrialisation and regional trade integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Situated on a 21,000-acre site in the Gomoa Central District, the industrial park is expected to create over 60,000 jobs, attract billions of dollars in private investment, and transform the area into a hub for manufacturing, agro-processing, logistics, and export services.

Supported by the Ghana Free Zones Authority and the AfCFTA Secretariat, the initiative forms part of the government’s 24-Hour Economy Agenda, aimed at expanding productivity beyond the traditional working day.

Other dignitaries expected to attend the ceremony include Alban S.K. Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament; Goosie Tanoh, Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy; Dr. Sam Jonah, Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital; Krobo Edusei Jnr., Executive Chairman of Safebond Africa Investment Group; Kwame Asare Obeng, Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central; and Albert Dwumfour, President of the Ghana Journalists Association.

The Gomoa Industrial Park is designed to anchor Ghana’s transition from an import-dependent economy to a production- and export-oriented one.

By clustering industries and providing modern infrastructure, including roads, utilities, warehousing, and digital connectivity, the park aims to reduce operational costs and promote value addition across agriculture, manufacturing, and services.

At full operation, it is projected to generate billions in export earnings, support local suppliers, and drive inclusive growth across the Central Region and beyond.

The project also aligns with the AfCFTA framework, giving manufacturers access to a continental market of over 1.3 billion people.

Gomoa Central MP, Kwame Asare Obeng, described the project as transformative, saying, ‘This is a complete ecosystem where sustainability and profitability thrive together.’

He added that the zone’s renewable energy infrastructure would ensure ‘some of the lowest operational costs in the region,’ while its strategic location offers access to multiple ports and the Lagos-Abidjan Corridor.

Despite the optimism surrounding the initiative, analysts caution that its long-term success will depend on Ghana’s cost structure and business environment.

High interest rates, with manufacturers facing credit costs above 25 percent, coupled with rising utility tariffs and unstable energy supply, continue to pose challenges to industrial competitiveness.

Experts argue that unlocking Ghana’s full industrial potential will require reducing borrowing costs, stabilising utility prices, improving logistics efficiency, and streamlining taxes and regulatory processes to make the country more attractive to investors under the AfCFTA.

A pre-launch event at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra will give investors and stakeholders exclusive insights into the park’s infrastructure plans, investment opportunities, and long-term strategic vision.

The launch of the Gomoa Central Special Economic Zone represents more than an infrastructural milestone.

It is a bold step toward sustainable and inclusive industrialisation that could position Ghana as a manufacturing powerhouse in Africa.

In a remarkable display of diplomatic prowess, Ghana’s Ambassador to China, H.E. Kojo Bonsu, has put up an impressive organizational effort during President John Dramani Mahama’s state visit to China. Barely three weeks into his tenure, Ambassador Bonsu, along with his embassy team and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, led by Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, ensured the success of the high-profile visit.

The visit, which included a Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality, an official meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the Ghana Investment Forum, was a testament to the strong bilateral relations between Ghana and China.

A Well-Coordinated Welcome

On Day 1, President Mahama and First Lady Lordina Mahama received a warm welcome in Beijing, where Ambassador Bonsu and Minister Ablakwa introduced the President to the embassy staff and Ghanaian students and businessmen in China.

*Successful Bilateral Engagements*

The following day, President Mahama attended the Global Leaders’ Summit and had productive business meetings with several Chinese investors, all well-arranged and coordinated by Ambassador Bonsu and his team.

Ghana Investment Forum

The Ghana Investment Forum, attended by President Mahama, Minister Ablakwa, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Trade Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Tong Defa, and other dignitaries, was a resounding success. The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Council, Simon Majie, delivered a powerful presentation on business opportunities in Ghana, highlighting various sectors of the economy and investment opportunities.

Key Takeaways

President Mahama assured investors of the government’s protection and commitment to creating a conducive business environment. Minister Ablakwa reiterated the President’s commitment to development and fixing Ghana’s economy. Ambassador Bonsu expressed his commitment to deepening Ghana-China relations, strengthening business, trade, and investments in key sectors.

Investor Outreach in Fujian Province

The final day of the visit saw President Mahama travel to Fujian Province, where he visited several industries in Fuzhou and met with potential investors interested in manufacturing industries in Ghana. This visit further underscored Ghana’s commitment to attracting foreign investment and promoting economic development.

*A New Era of Cooperation*

The successful visit has set the stage for enhanced cooperation between Ghana and China, with Ambassador Bonsu’s efforts earning praise from all quarters. As Ghana continues to attract investment and strengthen its economy, the role of its ambassador in China cannot be overstated.

*Quote*

‘I am fully committed to deepening the relationship between Ghana and China and strengthening business, trade, and investments, especially in health, education, renewable energy, transportation, and agriculture,’ Ambassador Kojo Bonsu said in his closing remarks.

This state visit marks a significant milestone in Ghana-China relations, and Ambassador Bonsu’s remarkable organizational skills have set a high standard for future diplomatic engagements between the two nations.

Former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has filed a suit challenging her removal on the recommendation of a five-member committee set up by the President to probe three petitions filed against her.

She is seeking among others, an order setting aside the findings of the committee chaired by Justice Gabriel Pwamang and its recommendations which led to her removal as Chief Justice.

She is also seeking an ‘order prohibiting the consideration and appointment of a new substantive Chief Justice of Ghana.’

Justice Torkornoo is again challenging the denial of her ‘salary, benefit, courtesies and other entitlements’ due to her before the Warrant of Removal signed by the President.

Removal

Justice Torkornoo was removed from office as Chief Justice and a Supreme Court judge on September 1, 2025, following the receipt of the report of a five-member committee that probed a petition filed against her.

She became the first ever Chief Justice to be removed from office following the recommendation of a committee probing allegations of misconduct and misbehaviour.

Prior to that, she was suspended on April 22, 2025, following the setting up of the committee to probe the three petitions calling for her removal.

The decision by President John Mahama to remove Justice Torkornoo as the head of the judiciary in line with Article 146(9) generated heated arguments from the moment the decision was announced by the Presidency.

What generated even more criticisms are the three main reasons why the Gabriel Pwamang Committee recommended that she should be removed from office.

Initial Suit

This is the second legal challenge Justice Torkornoo has mounted following her removal from office, a removal many have considered to be politically motivated.

The first one, which was filed last month, is seeking a judicial review and avers that the committee acted in excess of its mandate as it was set up to probe three petitions calling for her removal as Chief Justice and not a judge.

She argues that the Chief Justice is the administrative head of the Judiciary, a function not performed by other Justices of the Supreme Court, therefore, removal as a Chief Justice does not imply automatic removal as a Justice of the Superior Court, which includes the Supreme Court.

Latest Suit

In her latest suit filed by her lawyer, Kwabena Adu-Kusi, Justice Torkornoo argues that all of the alleged findings and grounds for recommendations of the committee set up by the President under Article 146 (6) and (7) of the 1992 Constitution ‘do not meet, even remotely, the standard of ‘stated misconduct, incompetence or infirmity on ground of inability to perform the functions of office’ imposed by Article 146 (1) of the 1992 Constitution as the only constitutional reasons that can lead to the removal of the Chief Justice or Justice of Superior Courts from office.’

She also argues that the findings and recommendations of the committee blatantly violate relevant provisions of the 1992 Constitution and are therefore unconstitutional and illegal.

She further argues that the committee recommending her removal for expenditure that has not been disallowed against her, nor she surcharged for it by the Auditor General is ‘false, misleading, irrational, unreasonable and illegal’ on account of purporting to find misconduct of the Chief Justice for expenditure.

It is her case that the ‘legitimate expenses’ on the Chief Justice’s vacation were administered and authorised by the Judicial Secretary, the Director of Finance, Director of Budget, and the Director of Audit of the Judicial Service who are the duly authorised officers that have administered the Travel Policy of the Judicial Service set by the Judicial Council for Chief Justices and Superior Court Justices since 2010.

Justice Torkornoo also argues that the second recommendation which borders on the transfer of judges is unfair, unreasonable, perverse and absurd as the Chief Justice as head of administration and supervision of the Judiciary is responsible for transferring all judges, including Superior Court Justices, and Judicial Officers of the Judicial Service.

On the third finding, Justice Torkornoo argues that the Chief Justice has a legitimate obligation to recommend Justices for national and international placements and appointments, hence, her recommendation of some judges for promotion to the Supreme Court cannot be a ground for her removal from office.

She is therefore, seeking an order quashing both the findings and recommendations of the committee as well as the Presidential Warrant dated September 1, 2025, which removed her from office as Chief Justice.

Ghana is not known to shy away from international politics. This is evidenced from the days of our first President Kwame Nkrumah whose famous quote: ‘the independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked with the total liberation of Africa’ and the projection of Ghana in the international community is apt evidence.

Kwame Nkrumah was on a trip to Hanoi for an official assignment when the coup of February 24, 1966 toppled his government.

Ghana is a major player in international politics, and to think we shall fold our arms and not express our position on major international issues cannot be an attribute of ours.

Last week, the Israeli envoy to Ghana organised a film show to project the image of his country, the second such overture to the people of Ghana.

Roey Gilad, the Israeli ambassador, is on a mission to repair the unfortunately battered image of his country which is becoming a pariah, shunned by most countries of the world.

When a country reaches such a worrying state in the international community, the Foreign Affairs Ministry in the home country should have her missions abroad work overdrive to reverse the picture, which is just what the envoy is doing.

During last week’s dented image reversing film show, the envoy took a gentle, if you like diplomatic, swipe at the government which as represented by the Foreign Affairs Ministry did not oblige an invitation for the programme.

He referred to, as he put it, snobbish receptions accorded the Israeli embassy anytime the mission sought audience with them at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The foregone stems from the stated position of Ghana under the present political administration on the genocide in Gaza and the condemnation of same.

The reality of genocide by scholars, United Nations (UN) and other appropriate agencies is undeniable by the whole world, including Ghana but Israel.

Ghana’s position on the Gazan issue is unwavering and our government could not have stated it otherwise.

We are opposed to the use of such brutality on a people, including the weaponisation of food in a dehumanising effort to wipe out a whole people.

We do not agree with what happened on October 7 on Israel, but the disproportionate retaliatory war on unarmed women and children which killed over 60,000 persons cannot be justified.

Even as the so-called ceasefire holds, Israel still finds cause to continue killing unarmed Gazans by the occupation forces.

And the Israeli mission wants our government and people to pretend that nothing untoward is happening in this part of the Middle East?

Israel’s impunity to international law has gone past the redline, and for the envoy to think a film show is enough to reverse our image about Israel under Benjamin Netanyahu is to belittle our intelligence.

Using the outstanding bodies of Israeli captives buried under the rubbles of Gaza as part of the ceasefire terms, to continue to kill armless women and children is the height of hypocrisy and inhumanness.

If Bibi wants the bodies of the dead Israelis, he should allow the international community such as Turkey bring in the relevant equipment to seek and retrieve same.

Saying no to such gestures means that Bibi is not yet done with his killing mission.

We stand by our Foreign Ministry in the just posture against genocide, especially as it is playing out in Palestine. We believe that only the two-state solution can address insecurity in this part of the Middle East.

As for an apology from our government, they won’t get it.

Last Saturday’s United Showbiz late-night show on UTV was filled with heated tension between pundit MC Yaa Yeboah and host Mrs. Empress Gifty Adorye over claims made against her regarding the desire for a good husband.

This misunderstanding was as a result of Empress Gifty’s claims of dedicating prayers to fellow colleague MC Yaa Yeboah to get a good husband in the coming days, during a discussion with Rev. Abboh on matters relating to the late Daddy Lumba’s marital controversies.

During the discussion, Rev. Abboh was heard saying it is an error for a lady to dedicate a prayer for a husband, considering the fact that men including married ones are in abundance and ready for marriage, hence it is needles to make such request from God.

Empress Gifty immediately said, ‘Oh, this is the prayers I have been praying for MC.’ In response, MC Yeboah said, ‘Empress, please retract that statement, I have not informed you I am in need of a husband, please I beg you.’

Five persons have been dragged before a High Court in Accra for allegedly attempting to smuggle 100 kilograms of gold estimated at GHS100 million.

Abdul Razak Seidu, Bernard Nkrumah and Ibrahim Aremeyaw were initially hauled before the court last month, where they pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.

Abdul Karim and Sadique Abubakari, who were initially on the run, subsequently appeared before the court yesterday and also pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Their lawyer, Paul Bariga, pleaded with the court to grant them bail, assuring it that the accused will make themselves available for the trial.

Together, they are facing a total of seven charges, including conspiracy to commit crime, attempt to smuggle gold, transportation of gold without authorisation, buying gold without licence issued by the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) and failure to comply with GoldBod Tier 2 Licence.

The court, presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey, has granted each of the accused persons a bail of GHS50 million with two sureties, one of whom must be justified.

They have been ordered to report to the police every other day until the conclusion of investigations.

One other suspect ? Muhammed Afsah Puthalan, an Indian national, is still on the run as the police mount a manhunt for his arrest.

The prosecution’s fact indicates that on August 26, 2025, the GoldBod Taskforce gathered intelligence that a syndicate was transporting gold from Tarkwa to Accra for onward smuggling out of Ghana.

Acting on the information, the Taskforce mounted surveillance on the Tarkwa-Accra route, which led to the interception of a Toyota Hiace commercial vehicle on August 27, 2025, at Winneba Junction.

Abdul Razak Seidu, who was on board the Toyota Hiace vehicle, was arrested and a backpack he was carrying contained three wrapped yellowish substances, which later was tested and confirmed at the GoldBod Assay Laboratory to be gold with a net weight of 8.2 kilograms, valued at approximately GHS10.2 million.

Investigation so far further disclosed that on several occasions, Seidu transported gold from Tarkwa to Accra under the instructions of Abdul Karim, who provided him with contacts via WhatsApp from Puthalan.

The brief fact indicated that Seidu, in his investigation cautioned statement dated on August 28, indicated that he received gold either directly from Bernard Nkrumah or from his driver, Joseph Acquah alias Kobi, for delivery in Accra.

It said Seidu further admitted that he was transporting the gold from Tarkwa to Accra for delivery to his cousin, Abdul Karim on the instructions of Puthalan.

‘He further indicated that he had made several similar trips in the last ten days preceding his arrest, and he was paid a fee of GHS500 for each trip,’ the facts noted.

The fact further indicated that Nkrumah, under interrogation, corroborated Seidu’s statements, that he supplied gold of varied quantities to Ramfoh Gold Limited, a company not holding any gold trading licence from the GoldBod, through Pathalan and Karim, using couriers like Seidu.

‘He further indicated that between July and August 2025, he purchased and supplied approximately 100 kilograms of gold valued at about GHS100 million to A1 (Ramfoh Ltd.) through A2 and A3 (Pathalan and Karim), using A4 (Seidu) and other couriers. He further confirmed receiving large sums of money, ranging from GHS10 million to GHS30 million on different occasions, through mobile money transfers from A1 and A2,’ the fact added.

Similarly, longtime environmental campaigner, lawyer Awula Serwah of the Eco-Conscious Citizens organisation, in a recent interview with 3News, drew attention to the alarming health and environmental consequences of galamsey, including rising kidney disease cases, premature deaths, birth deformities, and poisoned water bodies.

According to her, over 60 percent of Ghana’s water bodies have been contaminated by mining activities.

She cited figures from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which has recorded a fourfold increase in kidney disease cases, as evidence that the crisis is spiraling.

With vivid imagery, she stated: ‘The house is burning, and we are waiting for it to be reduced to ashes before we act. Water is life.’ She summed it up thus: ‘We will not die if we don’t have gold, but we will die without water.’

For its part, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) last week issued a strong warning that Ghana could soon face a nationwide water shortage if the government fails to take decisive action to halt galamsey.

The union raised the alarm during a fact-finding mission to assess the state of water treatment plants in the Kwanyako, Brim, and Akyem areas of the Central and Eastern Regions.

Speaking to JoyNews, the TUC Secretary-General, Joshua Ansah, described the situation as ‘deeply troubling.’

He called on President John Mahama to declare a state of emergency to confront the illegal mining crisis head-on, warning that the TUC will be compelled to take ‘a drastic decision’ if the government fails to act.

‘Galamsey must stop, and it must stop now,’ Mr Ansah stressed.

It was gratifying to learn last month that ‘the Government has declared all water bodies and forest reserves as security zones in the latest measure to root out illegal mining in the country,’ as announced by Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.

It’s also encouraging that there is a ‘National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), a special-purpose unit established under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources ‘to coordinate, monitor, and lead intelligence-led field operations against illegal mining (galamsey) activities across Ghana.’

However, how effective can these measures be, against the recalcitrant galamsey operators, some of them, fellow Ghanaians assisting foreigners; and well-armed too, to resist any challenge to their illegal mining?

Should they be allowed to endanger all of Ghana? They demonstrate their infuriating audacity, pepper-in-wound defiance, in videos posted online, posing for the cameras with impunity.

There is an argument that unemployment is the reason for the rise in illegal mining, but since when has unemployment become an acceptable excuse for crime?

Remarkably, despite the long and growing list of organisations calling for a SoE, President Mahama has declared his reluctance to do that, it should be only as ‘a last resort’ – though his party, the National Democratic Congress while in opposition had been strongly championing the need for a SoE.

What I must have missed somehow is their explanation for the change of mind, the present-day opposition to declaring a State of Emergency.

Anyhow, to my mind, the fight has to be an all-out offensive, with chiefs, youth and communities too in the forefront, to complement other measures. For us in Ghana, the WFD theme must relate to ensuring potable water and safe foodstuffs, free from galamsey poisons, for our better future.

And, in my opinion, Ms Serwah’s compelling message is good enough to serve as a slogan for a national call to action: ‘We will not die if we don’t have gold, but we will die without water.’